Web Posted - Monday January 30, 2023
When Steel Talks

East Region Large Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The final four large conventional steel orchestras competing in the preliminaries of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama are from the East Region. The fourth and final night of this phase is February 1, in their respective panyards.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Monday January 30, 2023
When Steel Talks

Results - Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Twenty-three steel orchestras in the medium band category took part in preliminaries for Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023.

....As defending champion, the Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra is out front going into the February 5 semi-finals being held at the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

....Results revealed a three-way tie at position thirteen (13) which would indicate that fifteen medium bands are semi-finalists this year.
See full results

Web Posted - Sunday January 29, 2023
When Steel Talks

North Region Large Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - It will be a massive caravan underway as pan lovers follow the judges from panyard to panyard in the North region on Tuesday January 31.

....Seven steel orchestras in the large band category perform their respective tunes of choice.

....Performances are scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Saturday January 28, 2023
When Steel Talks

South/Central Region Large Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - There are five bands that pan lovers in the South/Central region can expect to hear from and enjoy. They are scheduled to appear before judges in respective pan yards/communities.

....Performances are to begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday January 30.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Friday January 27, 2023
When Steel Talks

Tobago Region Large Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Sister isle Tobago has two bands scheduled to appear before judges in respective pan yards/communities in the large conventional steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Friday January 27, 2023
When Steel Talks

Participants for LARGE Conventional Steel Orchestra Competition - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Participating bands from the South/Central, Tobago, North and East regions in the Large category of conventional steel orchestras are in the spotlight from January 29 through February 1. Desperadoes Steel Orchestra is the defending champion, and performs as one of the bands in the North.
See participants

Web Posted - Wednesday January 25, 2023
When Steel Talks

East Region Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - For the preliminary round, the East region is fielding the most bands in the medium conventional steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama. Sangre Grande Cordettes is expected to begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday January 28, 2023 - the first of nine steel orchestras on the card to face judges in respective pan yards/communities - all in one evening.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Wednesday January 25, 2023
When Steel Talks

North Region Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - North bands in the medium conventional steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama are in the spotlight when they appear before judges in respective pan yards/communities Following is data provided by event organizer Pan Trinbago.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Tuesday January 24, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Pan Trinbago confirms mix-up – St Mary’s Government Primary moves from 10^th to 2^nd place

SUCCESSFUL: Parents of students of St Mary’s Government Primary School in Moruga, outside the Ministry of Education in Port of Spain on Monday where they queried the results of the Junior Panorama Finals which had their children’s school placing tenth and last.

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thanks to the determination of parents of students of St Mary’s Government Primary School in Moruga, who went to the Education Ministry on Monday to query the results of the Junior Panorama finals, their children’s school has been moved from tenth and last place, to second place.

The parents later contacted Newsday on Monday evening to say that ministry officials had confirmed to them that there was a mix-up in the score-sheets.
See full article

Web Posted - Tuesday January 24, 2023
When Steel Talks

Participants for MEDIUM Conventional Steel Orchestra Competition - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Participating bands from the South/Central, Tobago, North and East regions in the Medium category of conventional steel orchestras are in the spotlight from January 24 through January 28. Couva Joylanders Steel Orchestra of the South/Central contingent is the defending champion.
See participants

Web Posted - Monday January 23, 2023
When Steel Talks

Tobago Region Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Sister isle Tobago has three bands scheduled to represent, appearing before judges in respective pan yards/communities in the medium conventional steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Sunday January 22, 2023
When Steel Talks

2023 Junior Panorama Results: Guaico Presbyterian, NAPS Combined, and Tropical Angel Harps Youth Steel Orchestras Triumph

National Schools/Junior Panorama Finals - Primary & Secondary Schools, 21 and Under categories - Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The country’s 2023 National Junior Panorama Finals are in the books, with three champion bands staking their claim on national titles.

....Guaico Presbyterian Steel Orchestra retained their championship, with two of the players on behalf of band mates triumphantly receiving the trophy from Trinidad & Tobago’s Minister of Education Minister, Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly.

In the Secondary schools category, NAPS Combined Steel Orchestra (Naparima Girls High & Naparima College) dethroned Bishop Anstey & Trinity College East (B.A.T.C.E.) Steel Orchestra, while Tropical Angel Harps Youth Steel Orchestra bested the twelve other bands in the running when they took the title in the 21 and Under category.
See results

Web Posted - Sunday January 22, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Vanessa’s pan ecstasy

Vanessa Headley is the vice-president and artistic director of the Golden Hands Steel Orchestra and Music School

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Vanessa Headley may not be a hard taskmaster in the panyard.

But she’s no pushover either.

“My approach to teaching music in the panyard is based on a good balance between discipline and fun,” the San Fernando-born arranger told WMN.

“Playing music should never feel like a chore. It will never flow. But excellence requires dedication and discipline.

....Vice-president and artistic director of the Golden Hands Steel Orchestra and Music School, Headley, 34, believes that in order to inspire her charges, they must be able to share her passion and excitement.
See more

Web Posted - Saturday January 21, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

3 more bands added to Junior Panorama under 21 finals

Frontline members of Hadco Phase II Pan Groove Junior Steel Orchestra during their performance at the preliminary round of the competition on January 18

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Three new bands have been added to the finals of the National Junior Panorama 21 and under category, set to take place at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Sunday.

Pan Trinbago’s secretary Denise Hernandez confirmed to Newsday that the number has increased from 10 to 13.

....“It was decided that we would add two more bands to all finals, in terms of the celebration of 2023 being the 60th anniversary, our diamond jubilee.”

....Hernandez said Pan Trinbago president Beverley Ramsey-Moore was in Tobago when the draw was done and when she noted two additional bands had been added to all the other finalists in other categories “and not adding the extra bands to the under 21 would not be right.”
See more

Web Posted - Friday January 20, 2023
Kaieteur News

Ansa McAL officially adopts Parkside Steel Orchestra

Donates $1 M to band’s initiatives

Representatives of the Ansa McAl and Parkside Steel Orchestra at the handing-over ceremony

Guyana, S.A. - As part of its plan to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, Ansa McAl Guyana Limited has officially adopted the Parkside Steel Orchestra, one of the nation’s popular steel bands.

The company handed over a $1 million cheque to representatives of the steel orchestra on Thursday rebranding the band ‘the Ansa McAl Parkside Steel Orchestra’.

.....“We will be supporting them throughout the year and the donation of one million dollars is given to them, so that they will be able to offset all expenses such as purchasing new pans, uniforms, etc.”
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 18, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Pan, soca at Savannah for National Junior Pan finals on Sunday

HCC Alumknights Steel Orchestra have secured a place in the National Junior Panorama (Under 21 category) with their tune of choice Hall of Fame by Mical Teja.

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Trending soca artistes Viking Ding Dong, Mical Teja, Shal Marshall and Problem Child would add to the excitement at the National Junior Panorama finals at the Queens Park Savannah on Sunday.

Primary schools finalists will kick off the competition from 9 a.m., followed by the ten finalists in the Secondary Schools category. The Under 21 juniors will bring the competition to a close.
See more

Web Posted - Thursday January 19, 2023
When Steel Talks

Order of Appearance for Junior Steel Orchestras Finals - Trinidad and Tobago 2023 Junior/National Schools Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thirty Junior steel orchestras will be vying for championship status in their respective categories at the Trinidad and Tobago 2023 Junior/National Schools Panorama Finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday January 22 from 9:00 a.m. 
See more

Web Posted - Thursday January 19, 2023
PointeXpress Newspaper

Community steel orchestra launched in St. Paul

Members of the newly launched Black Eagle Steel band performing at the launch of the steel orchestra in Liberta Monday night.

Antigua & Barbuda, W.I. - The people of St. Paul have one more community-based organisation around which they can rally.

The Black Eagle Steel Orchestra was launched at the St. Paul Empowerment Centre on Monday night by the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party’s representative for the constituency, E. P. Chet Greene.

At the unveiling of the Black Eagle Steel Orchestra, Greene said it was always his dream for the community to have its own steel band.

....With the assistance of Veron Henry and other members of the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra, youngsters in St. Paul can now learn the musical artform.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 18, 2023
When Steel Talks

National Schools/Junior Panorama 2023 Preliminaries Results - Primary & Secondary Schools, 21 and Under categories - Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - The Ministry of Education’s National Schools Panorama 2023 kicked off on Wednesday January 11 to melodious sounds. Hundreds of students at the primary and secondary school level matched skills on the pan and other musical instruments in the preliminary round of the competition. The steelband music match-up is hosted in collaboration with the Pan in Schools Coordinating Council and Pan Trinbago.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 18, 2023
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

$20,000 for Pleasantville Panjammers

Pleasantville Secondary School Panjammers

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - A day after their plight was highlighted, Pleasantville Secondary School Panjammers received news that JMMB Express plans to invest $20,000 to assist them in competing at the National Secondary Schools Panorama finals.

JMMB Express CEO Elson James responded to Guardian Media’s exclusive story as the Panjammers pleaded with the public to assist them in getting a sponsor for the finals which are set to take place this weekend at the Queens Park Savannah Grand Stand.

After reading the story, James contacted JMMB Express San Fernando Manager Dominic Victor who reached out to the school to offer assistance.
See more

Web Posted - Monday January 16, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Uptown Fascinators repeats as small-band pan champs

Pan Trinbago President Beverley Ramsey-Moore celebrates with Uptown Fascinators Steel Orchestra after their winning performance of Dollar Wine by Colin Lucas during the Panorama Small Conventional Steel Orchestra finals at the Queen’s Park Savannah, on Saturday

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Steelpan arranger Ojay Richards was at a loss for words after Tobago-based steelband Uptown Fascinators retained  the Panorama small conventional bands crown after a thrilling, high-energy performance on Saturday night.

Performing Dollar Wine by Colin Lucas at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, the band edged TT Defence Force by just three points to place first with 281 points.
See more

Web Posted - Sunday January 15, 2023
When Steel Talks

Results - Small Conventional Steel Orchestra Finals - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023 - Tobago’s Uptown Fascinators and Arranger Ojay Richards Capture Consecutive Title

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Uptown Fascinators from sister isle Tobago got the job done. They set out to retain their title won in 2020 and did just that. Returning with arranger Ojay Richards, performing the classic soca “Dollar” (aka Dollar Wine), and scoring 281, the players captured their consecutive championship, keeping the trophy in the small steel orchestra category in Tobago.
See full results

Web Posted - Saturday January 14, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

David Yundi confident about pan finals

Arranger David Yundi wanted to give Black Stalin a good send off

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Despite it being his first time arranging for Panorama, or any steelpan orchestra at all, 21-year-old David Yundi, is confident in his abilities and that of small conventional steelband, Genesis Pan Groove.

The steelband placed 20^th in the preliminaries but moved up to ninth in the semi-finals, and played Bun Dem by the late Leroy “Black Stalin” Calliste in the finals on Saturday. He said with the band’s significant improvement from the prelims to the semis, and with the feedback and constructive criticism he got from the judges, he was confident about the finals.
See more

Web Posted - Friday January 13, 2023
When Steel Talks

National Junior Panorama 2023 - Preliminaries - Order of Appearance

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Sixteen junior steel orchestras from three areas: South/Central, East and North regions - are expected to compete in the preliminaries of the Trinidad & Tobago 2023 National Junior Panorama. According to data provided by event organizer Pan Trinbago, bands will perform in respective venues over a three-day period.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Thursday January 12, 2023
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Fewer schools vying for Junior Panorama title

South East Port-of-Spain Secondary School Steel Orchestra members perform Out and Bad, by Voice, in the preliminaries of Junior Panorama at the Silver Stars Panyard on Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - A 62 per cent decrease in schools’ participation in the 2023 Junior Panorama Competition has been blamed on the Ministry of Education dropping one of its music programmes.

In 2020, the competition had 67 schools participating, which was a record-high number. However, this year there are only 25 schools in the competition. Initially, there were 25 schools---17 secondary schools and 11 primary schools--but three secondary schools withdrew from the competition.
See more

Web Posted - Thursday January 12, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

C&B Cordaans ready to mash up Panorama finals

C&B Crown Point Cordaans players enjoy their performance at last Saturday’s Panorama small conventional band semis at Victoria Square, Port of Spain

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - C&B Crown Cordaans are eyeing their first Panorama small conventional bands title on Saturday, at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

The Canaan/Bon Accord-based band is pumped for the occasion after their rendition of Mash Up by the late Dexter “Blaxx” Stewart, which placed them in fifth position, following the semi-finals at Victoria Square, Port of Spain last Saturday.

Koreece Graham, who has been the arranger/musical director of the band for the past five years, attributes the success of the band to the growth of the players, management and himself.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 11, 2023
When Steel Talks

South/Central Region Medium Conventional Steel Orchestra Preliminaries - Panyard Judging - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Seven bands representing the South/Central Region have registered and are expected to appear before judges in respective pan yards/communities in the medium conventional steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama. The performances take place over two nights.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Wednesday January 11, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Energetic start as Secondary Schools Panorama launches in south

Pleasantville Secondary aka Pleasantville Pan Jammers performing at the National schools Panorama, Secondary schools prelims judging at Fonclaire Steel Orchestra panyard on Dottin Street in San Fernando. The band played ‘Same Way’ by Blaxx.

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Excitement bubbled in San Fernando on Wednesday morning as curriculum coordinator Marceline Peters launched the preliminary round of the National Schools Panorama competition 2023.

The competition is a product of the Ministry of Education.

Under the brilliant morning sunlight, the launch happened at the Carib Skiffle panyard at Coffee Street, San Fernando.

The first of four secondary school bands to face the judges was past winner Naps Combined Steel Orchestra.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 11, 2023
The Hamilton Spectator

Dundas Order of Hamilton recipients recognized for commitment to community

Dundas Order of Hamilton recipients

Ontario, Canada - Commitment to community was recognized during the last of six City of Hamilton 2023 New Year’s Levees hosted by Mayor Andrea Horwath, at Dundas Town Hall Sunday afternoon.

Horwath presented the final three 2022 Order of Hamilton recipients, including Dundasians Cathy Ferreira and Sidney Stacey, and Patricia Smith. 

....Ferreira has volunteered her services to several organizations during the past 33 years, after arriving from Trinidad.

She co-founded Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra in 2004 with Karen Nelson. Horwath said the program has had a significant impact on more than 350 youth.
See more

Web Posted - Tuesday January 10, 2023
When Steel Talks

Finals: Order of Appearance for SMALL Steel Orchestras - Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Sixteen finalists take to the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in the small steel orchestra category of the 2023 Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama. They have drawn their playing positions and face-off in final competition on Saturday January 14, the first time since 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.
See order of appearance

Web Posted - Monday January 9, 2023
When Steel Talks

Pan Trinbago enacts major rule change for Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - ....This rule update does however highlight a real issue in Trinidad and Tobago during the annual Panorama season - the participation of more bands than can be supported by the existing pool of players. The situation has for the time being worked positively for a select few players financially - a simple case of supply and demand. And there have been complaints as to the quality of music performances being produced under these conditions.
See more

Web Posted - Sunday January 8, 2023
When Steel Talks

Results - Small Conventional Steel Orchestra Semi-Finals - Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Overcast skies and periodic rain did not put a damper or a stop to the performances of small steel orchestras during the January 7 semi-finals in the Trinidad & Tobago National Panorama 2023. The first notes in the competition were struck at 4:13 p.m. local time with Fascinators Pan Symphony playing Long Time arranged by Amrit Samaroo. The band would be one of those making the final cut scoring 272 and placing fourth overall. Uptown Fascinators from sister isle Tobago are determined to hold on to their title, through to the finals after coming out on top with 277 points after this round.
See more, get results

Web Posted - Saturday January 7, 2023
TTT News

Approval For Grants And Payments For Carnival ’23 -  5 million dollars to support un-sponsored steelbands

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Approximately 5 million dollars [circa USD $737,000.00] has been approved by cabinet to support un-sponsored steelbands for Carnival 2023 and the payment of 5 hundred dollars to each steel pan player for Panorama 2023.

A release from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, explained that these measures were taken in recognition of the significant role Steelbands and the Steelband movement plays in the cultural and social fabric and development in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as, the financial difficulties faced by individuals and organizations in the Steelpan movement as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 4, 2023
When Steel Talks

‘Long Live Soca’ - 2023 Tune of choice for a significant number of steel orchestras in Trinidad & Tobago 2023 National Panorama

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - A tune written and sung by soca star Aaron “Voice” St. Louis called ‘Long Live Soca’ has emerged as the front-runner for tune of choice in Trinidad and Tobago’s 2023 National Panorama season.

....Antillean All Stars with arranger Keisha Codrington was the first in the category to go public with its choice, followed by Harmonites Steel Orchestra.
See more

Web Posted - Wednesday January 4, 2023
When Steel Talks

2023 Tune of choice for steel orchestras - ‘Long Live Soca’

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - ‘Long Live Soca’ sung by  Aaron “Voice” St. Louis and featuring panist Joshua Regrello has been chosen by several steel orchestras to perform in the 2023 Trinidad and Tobago 2023 National Panorama.
Take a listen

Web Posted - Tuesday January 3, 2023
When Steel Talks

Semi-Finals: Order of Appearance for SMALL Steel Orchestras - Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama 2023

Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - Thirty small steel orchestras qualified for the semi-finals after panyard judging in December 2022, and they have now drawn their playing positions for that next stage of competition on Saturday January 7, 2023 beginning 4:00 p.m. The venue is opposite Victoria Square, Park Street in Port-of-Spain.

Numbers were pulled in alphabetical order of band names. Playing in position one is Fascinators Pan Symphony; the band had the top score after the preliminary results.
see more

Web Posted - Sunday January 1, 2023
When Steel Talks

Happy New Year 2023 - from When Steel Talks (WST)

Global - When Steel Talks extends New Year’s greetings to all.
More

When Steel Talks

Trinidad and Tobago 2023 Panorama and Carnival Schedule of Events

Global - Trinidad and Tobago Panorama and Carnival Schedule of Events.  Info on the activities for the 2023 steelband music season: dates, times, judging schedules, preliminaries, semi-finals and finals competitions, event venues, and more.
see more

When Steel Talks

2023 Trinidad and Tobago National Steelband Panorama Info - Complete

Global - PanOnTheNet/ WhenSteelTalks is Panorama Central! Complete information on the 2023 season of the Trinidad and Tobago National Panorama, and competitions:  Schedules, Orders of Appearance for preliminary, semi-final and final phases for large, medium and small conventional steel orchestras, and single pan bands; arrangers’ bios, bios of steel orchestras; full results, panyard addresses, history of previous Panoramas, and much more!
see complete information index

When Steel Talks

Facebook got it wrong - Meta World and WST & SteelPan Are Friends Again

Facebook “Likes” sends PanOnTheNet Apology - “We got it wrong”

Metaverse - Facebook got it wrong. About three years ago without warning or reason all WST (When Steel Talks) steelpan-related accounts fell out of favor with the social media giant Facebook now known as Meta and its aligned consortiums (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp). Because WST has all of our material hosted on our own shared servers, this ‘tag’ was not incurable or as problematic as it could have been. However, it was annoying to have people seeking critical steelpan music info diverted by Facebook AI (artificial intelligence).
see more

Web Posted
When Steel Talks

Technology Giant “Google” Celebrates the steelpan instrument via Google Doodle

Celebrating Steelpan - Illustration by artist Nicholas Huggins

Doodle of steelpan instrument ‘live’ on Google’s web site

Global - On Tuesday July 26, 2022 the steelpan instrument of Trinidad and Tobago is featured and celebrated on the site of technology giant “Google” via the famed Google ‘Doodle.’ The ‘Doodle’ is essentially an illustrative change made to the Google corporate logo “to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists” - and more. The doodle is then seen by users all around the world who access Google’s homepage on that day, and is available thereafter in the doodle archives.

....Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins is the creator of the illustrative artwork featured in the doodle, while Etienne Charles is the composer of the accompanying music performed by the legendary steelpan icon Len “Boogsie” Sharpe.
see more